25th - 31st August 2025
The 153rd Open Championship took place at Royal Portrush, one of the best links courses in the UK, from the 17th-20th July. I not only had the opportunity to attend this event but also to see some of the preparations that took place in the months beforehand to prepare for the week of practice and competition days.
Months in advance, teams were busy preparing the course, ensuring that the tees, fairways and greens were meticulously manicured and ready for an event that was going to be broadcast around the world. Cables for television coverage and electricity were lining every hole, some more hidden than others, yet essential for the event’s success, miles and miles of cables. Massive stands made from scaffolding were carefully constructed to welcome thousands of spectators … so much time and effort to erect, this alone took months. Large screens for displaying the latest information on who was playing and what their score was were dotted around the course. Spectator villages, food courts and rest areas were planned with care in multiple parts of the course. All this investment of time and energy led up to what can only be described as an incredible yet brief moment … after all the preparation the tournament itself was over in less than a week.
As I pondered the amount of effort that went into preparing for this event I thought about my own life and faith. I was compelled to think about the preparation I put into the moments that God has appointed for me, the life he wants me to live and potential he wants me to reach for him. It’s not just for a week, it’s for the rest of my life and if I’ve learnt anything in life it is that preparation is important and requires time and effort. I suppose the question I asked myself was, ‘How are you preparing for this life and the life to come?’
Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 4:7–8: “Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
What a thought! Train yourself for godliness. It reminds me that godliness does not just happen, we need to add to our faith, we need to grow in our faith, we need to mature, we need to be rooted, and this requires effort.
I wonder how we are all doing in the challenge of training ourselves for godliness. How is our prayer life? How are we at spending time in God’s word, listening to him speak to us through what he has given to us? How are we at discerning the promptings of the Holy Spirit, or acting on what we read, hear and understand God to be saying to us?
For some reason we are not that open in conversations about our preparation for godliness but so much of who we are and what we will be depends on that preparation.
An event as successful as the Open does not happen without preparation and so much of that goes unseen by most of the people that attend the event. Yet, without the hard work behind the scenes, the event just wouldn’t take place in the same way as I was able to experience this year.
To flesh this thought out a little, think about the importance of reading the word of God each day and how this can be seen like preparing the course for what lies ahead. God’s word shapes the contours of our heart, trimming away rough edges, flattening out the bumps and planting truth deep within us.
Or what about prayer, both private and corporate? In a sense it is like constructing the scaffolding, like the structural support that holds us up when life takes unexpected turns and we find ourselves under stress and pressure.
Or learning the practice of obedience in the small things of life is like tending the greens on the golf course. It may seem mundane and routine but, in the end, it creates a surface where the Holy Spirit can move freely in our lives to lead, guide and empower us.
And then, at just the right time, the “event” comes to our lives and, without realising the preparation that we have put into our relationship with God, our walk with him comes into effect.
Perhaps it’s a friend asking us for spiritual advice, a crisis that tests our faith, or a door God opens for us to share the good news. In that moment, we do not have the time to prepare from scratch, but we can draw on the months and years of hidden work, of consistent walking with God to help us. In other words, we are ready because we have been made ready.
The Open may have only lasted for a few days, but its impact lingers in memories and stories in the lives of those who attended and watched on TV. Likewise, the moments that God is preparing us for can have eternal consequences when we are dependent on God and spending time with him.
For me the challenge has been to not despise the hidden work of preparation but rather to be inspired by the journey and to live in an attitude of preparedness. Every prayer whispered, every portion of God’s word read, every act of obedience is the consistent preparation that allows us to be changed and God to be glorified in and through our lives. The preparation and training are never wasted.
Written by David Mairs
MONDAY
“Break up your unploughed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12
Heavenly Father, I recognise that my heart can so easily become distracted and I can neglect the importance of spending time with you. Just as the course at Royal Portrush had to be prepared months in advance, I know my own soul must be prepared and made ready to receive what you want to say to me. At times it is so hard to pray but, Father, will you break up the soil of my heart. Would you expose the weeds of sin and the stones of unbelief that make it difficult for your word to take root in my heart. Help me to seek you and your kingdom first, knowing that you are sovereign and in control of all things. Help me to have the desire and hunger within to hear from you. Teach me the rhythm of personal devotion that I need so I can be prepared and ready each day for what you have in store for me. I long to experience the sense of the showers of righteousness refreshing my life and helping me to grow in my faith. Help me, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
TUESDAY
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
Heavenly Father, thank you that you see the hidden parts of my life. There is nothing I can hide from you even though in my mind I try to. Help me to recognise that real strength is built in secret places with you when I cut out the distractions and be still and sense your presence with me. Forgive me, Father, when I get so busy and focus on myself and what I need to do that I forget the importance of spending time with you. Would you be gracious to me and draw me daily into your presence. Create a desire and expectation within my heart, help me to be open, honest in my prayers. Help me not to put on an act or try to be someone I am not but instead mould me into the person you want me to be and the person you can use for your glory. Teach me to treasure the unseen moments, realising that it is through these times that you are shaping me in ways that enable me to reach my full potential as your child. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
WEDNESDAY
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love…” Jude 1:20–21
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you call me to build up my faith, not in my own strength but through the Holy Spirit. Like scaffolding erected around Royal Portrush in preparation for the Open, spiritual disciplines help to provide me with the structure and strength I need in my life. Father God, help me to prepare myself each day through your word, prayer, worship and opportunities to serve. Forgive me when I cut corners or just skip entirely the time I should spend with you. Help me to have a greater awareness of your love for me and may that motivate me to respond by putting time with you first. Help me, strengthen me and empower me to have victory in the battle I sometimes find in just taking the time to be with you.
THURSDAY
“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11
Heavenly Father, I can see how a golf course requires daily mowing, raking and tending to remain beautiful and ready for use each day. In the same way, Father, I need your presence and provision in my life each day. So, today I ask that you feed and sustain me with what I need for the day ahead. Help me to focus on the small, steady, practices of prayer, reading and worship. Help me to have ears to hear what it is you are trying to say to me. Open my heart to pray for those that need prayer, open my lips to sing your praise. Thank you for reminding me that it is only each day I need to focus on and not the next week, month or year. Sometimes I lose sight of your words in Matthew that remind me not to worry about tomorrow. Father, let me not grow weary in spending time in your word. Will you feed me and guide me today. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
FRIDAY
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
Heavenly Father, I know that life brings unexpected opportunities, moments to share hope, to serve, or to endure unexpected trials. As we consider the importance of preparation this week, will you prepare my heart each day for those I will meet and have opportunities to speak to. This may be family, friends, work colleagues or even a stranger. Father, I don’t know what moments await me, but I am thankful that you do and you have promised to be with me and you have given me everything I need to live a godly life. Fill me afresh with your word so I can speak truth with gentleness and love. Give me the discernment and wisdom to recognise the divine opportunities that you place before me. I am expectant and ready, use me today I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
SATURDAY
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Heavenly Father, how quickly life passes, I have just returned from time with family celebrating my eldest son’s 38th birthday. It only seems like yesterday that he came into our lives and it is a reminder that life is but a vapour which quickly vanishes. Forgive me for the times I allow one day to drift into another. Teach me how to number my days and to seize each one and to live prepared, not just for the hard times but also for the good times. Develop within me a heart of gratitude for all you have done for me. May my response be to gain a heart of wisdom so I can make sensible, good, wise choices in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
SUNDAY
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Heavenly Father, thank you that what is done for you is never wasted. As I seek to live my life for you, take what I offer and make an eternal difference. It is so sobering to consider that you choose to use your children, that we can be co-workers with you. Help me to understand that the day-to-day preparation of spending time with you is of eternal significance. Teach me afresh the joy of being with you, hearing from you, talking to you, sharing life with you. Help me realise that it is in my weakness and dependence on you that I actually become strong. Give me the confidence to trust you, to serve you and to be available to be used by you. Help me to live a life of integrity. In the quiet place, may you change me and equip me to be the child you want me to be. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.